15 seconds of OT all it takes

Tavares' quick goal gives Islanders 2-1 win, 2-1 series edge

Associated Press

Published 11:53 pm, Sunday, April 19, 2015

Photo: CHANG W. LEE

Image 1of/1

Caption

Close

Image 1 of 1

New York Islanders center John Tavares (91) makes his game-winning goal in overtime of Game 3 of the team's NHL playoff series against the Washington Capitals at Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, N.Y., April 19, 2015. The Islanders won 2-1. (Chang W. Lee/The New York Times) ORG XMIT: XNYT11 less

New York Islanders center John Tavares (91) makes his game-winning goal in overtime of Game 3 of the team's NHL playoff series against the Washington Capitals at Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, N.Y., April 19, ... more

Photo: CHANG W. LEE

15 seconds of OT all it takes

1 / 1

Back to Gallery

Uniondale

John Tavares can be excused if the Islanders captain doesn't recall the previous time New York won a playoff game in overtime.

"I was only 3 years old then," Tavares said, when informed it's been 22 years since that happened.

He'll certainly remember this one.

After winning the overtime-opening faceoff, Tavares scored 15 seconds into the extra period to seal a 2-1 win over the Washington Capitals in Game 3 of their first-round playoff series on Sunday.

With the crowd chanting "MVP! MVP" Tavares provided the Islanders a 2-1 series lead.

And he became the first Islanders player to score a playoff overtime goal since David Volek did in Game 7 of a second-round 4-3 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins on May 14, 1993.

New York had lost its previous six overtime playoff games.

Tavares' score was the second-fastest playoff overtime goal in Islanders history.

J.P. Parise scored in 11 seconds on April 11, 1975, in the franchise's first postseason game decided in overtime.

Game 4 is at Long Island on Tuesday.

"The best players have to be your best players if you're going to have a chance to win a Stanley Cup," Islanders coach Jack Capuano said of Tavares.

"Tonight, 91, was 91. He did a lot of good things for us on the ice but on the bench, too, to calm things down."

The Islanders won by avoiding blowing a lead for a second straight game after giving up three straight goals in a 4-3 loss in Game 2 at Washington on Friday.

This time, New York gave up the tying goal with 6:06 left in regulation, when Nicklas Backstrom snapped in a shot off the crossbar.

"It happens," Tavares said. "You have to deal with each and every shift, the adversity you face. You have to move on."

"We just wanted to get back to playing the way we needed to," Okposo said. "After they scored that goal to tie it up, we got back to playing on our toes."

Blackhawks 4, Predators 2:Jonathan Toews had a goal and an assist, and Chicago used a three-goal second period to beat Nashville for a 2-1 lead in their first-round playoff series. Marian Hossa had two assists and Scott Darling made 35 saves to help Chicago win for the 20th time in its last 24 postseason home games. Brandon Saad, Brent Seabrook and Andrew Desjardins also scored in an impressive response by the Blackhawks after Friday night's 6-2 loss in Nashville. Darling, a native of the Chicago suburb of Lemont, made his first postseason start after Corey Crawford was ineffective in the first two games of the series. The rookie also replaced Crawford in Game 1 and made 42 saves as the Blackhawks rallied for a 4-3 victory in double overtime. Mike Ribeiro and Mattias Ekholm scored for Nashville, and Pekka Rinne had 26 saves.

Canadiens 2, Senators 1 (OT):Dale Weise scored the tying goal late in the third period and then won it 8:47 into overtime, leading Montreal to victory. Montreal has a chance to complete a four-game sweep Wednesday, with Game 4 in Ottawa. Weise sent the game to overtime with his goal with 5:47 remaining in the third. Torrey Mitchell assisted on both goals, and Carey Price made 33 saves. Clarke MacArthur opened the scoring for the Senators at 11:28 of the first period. Craig Anderson, making his first start of the playoffs, made 47 saves in the loss. Montreal dominated at times in the second and third periods, outshooting Ottawa 31-15 through the final 40 minutes of regulation.